Journey Along the Danube to the Rhine 2020

Note that there may be small differences between our general Itinerary for this cruise and a specific departure.
To view departure specific itineraries please go to the Dates and Prices tab and click "View Itinerary" on a specific departure.

Journey Along the Danube to the Rhine

Set sail on an unforgettable journey aboard MS Arena, encompassing some of Europe’s most fascinating historic cities. You’ll see it all, from the undeniably beautiful Budapest and Slovakia’s capital, Bratislava, to the impressive sights of Vienna and the Sound of Music city of Salzburg. Visit quaint riverside towns in the heart of Bavaria and immerse yourself in the medieval and Baroque architecture along the way. Beginning on Europe’s second longest river, the Danube, and ending on the Rhine, this is a river cruise unlike any other.

Day 1: UK – Munich (Rail) We travel by rail to our overnight hotel in Munich.

Day 2: Munich – Budapest (Rail) / UK – Budapest (Air) We’ll start the day with breakfast, before continuing by rail to Budapest. Here, we’ll be joined by those who’ve travelled by air and we’ll board our ship. Once settled in, dinner will be served and you’re free to enjoy a relaxing evening onboard.

Day 3: Budapest – Bratislava After breakfast, there’s an optional morning sightseeing tour around breathtaking Budapest; one of the most beautiful cities in the world. You’ll get to experience both sides of the city, Buda and Pest, divided by the mighty Danube. Discover the 700-year-old Matthias Church, the magnificent Hungarian Parliament Building and the iconic Buda Castle, towering 48 metres above the river bank. We return to the ship for lunch and then we set sail to Bratislava.

Day 4: Bratislava – Vienna This morning, we arrive in Slovakia’s capital, the historic city of Bratislava. You have the opportunity to head off on an optional tour of the city, dominated by the huge Bratislava Castle with its vivid red roof. A local guide will take us on a walking tour of the city, where you’ll get to sample some tasty ‘Makovka’; a traditional sweet white chocolate filled with poppy seeds. We leave Bratislava in the afternoon and set sail for Vienna where we arrive this evening.

Day 5: Vienna – Melk There’s so much to see in the Austria’s capital city, whose historical centre boasts UNESCO World Heritage Status. Take in all the highlights on an optional sightseeing tour by coach and scratch the surface of the 150 grand palaces, 27 baroque castles and countless quaint squares and impressive monuments that Vienna is so famous for. Spend time exploring the birthplace of classical music at your own leisure before returning to the ship, ready to cruise towards Melk.

Day 6: Melk – Linz This morning we arrive in the Austrian town of Melk where you can spend the morning wandering the quaint cobbled streets and soaking up the relaxing atmosphere of this picturesque town in the heart of the Wachau Valley. The town is overlooked by one of the most exceptional monastic houses in Austria, the Benedictine Abbey. Join our optional excursion to see the abbey for yourself, before returning to the ship for lunch. This afternoon, relax onboard as we cruise towards Linz.

Day 7: Linz – Salzburg – Passau – Regensburg We arrive into Linz this morning, ready for an action-packed day ahead. From here, you have the option to experience the UNESCO World Heritage city of Salzburg on an unforgettable excursion. The beautiful city is famed for being the birthplace of Mozart and is recognisable as the Sound of Music city. Relax with a rich Austrian coffee and a slice of cake or re-enact the “Do-Re-Mi” song on the steps at the Mirabell Palace. We rejoin our ship in the German city of Passau and set sail for Regensburg this evening.

Day 8: Regensburg – Nuremberg Today, we arrive into Regensburg around lunchtime, where this afternoon there is an optional city tour for you to join. Oozing with culture and charm, this medieval Bavarian city lies at the northernmost part of the Danube, where the river meets the Regen River and is one of the best preserved medieval centres in Europe. Relax onboard this evening as we sail overnight to Nuremberg.

Day 9: Nuremberg – Bamberg This afternoon we arrive into Nuremberg, Bavaria’s second largest city. There’s no better way to make the most of your time here than to join the optional sightseeing tour and learn all there is to know about this magnificent city. Encompassed in its ancient city walls and dominated by the Imperial Castle of Nuremberg, the city is awash with gothic churches, aristocratic houses, cascading fountains, poignant memorials and plenty of romantic corners. This evening, we continue our journey to Bamberg.

Day 10: Bamberg – Würzburg We arrive into the historic city of Bamberg this morning, which is home to yet another superb UNESCO World Heritage Site old town. Situated at the start of the Main-Danube Canal, the city is set against a beautiful backdrop of seven hills and has an excellently-preserved medieval centre. On our optional city tour, you’ll get to experience Altenburg Castle, the Old Town Hall, the cathedral and the former Benedictine Monastery which is the focal point of the landscape. Later this afternoon we set sail towards Würzburg.

Day 11: Würzburg – Miltenberg This morning, we arrive in the Bavarian city of Würzburg, with its baroque and rococo architecture and spectacular palace. The Würzberg Residence was home to powerful prince-bishops in centuries gone by and you can witness its splendour with your own eyes on our optional tour. Visit the 8th century church, one of the oldest in Germany, and the prominent Marienberg Fortress before setting sail to Miltenberg in the early evening.

Day 12: Miltenberg – Rüdesheim We arrive in Miltenberg at lunchtime, when you’ll have free time to explore the pearl of the river Main. Picture-perfect in every way, walk among the half-timbered houses of the Old Market Place and discover the oldest part of town, nestled between the banks of the Main and the Greinberg mountain. We set sail for Rüdesheim later this afternoon.

Day 13: Rüdesheim – Cologne Today we arrive in the scenic winemaking town of Rüdesheim, in the heart of the Rhine Valley. Take advantage of our optional excursion and take in the many sights of this quaint town, including a cable car ride which will give you incredible panoramic views across the valley below. Alternatively, you might want to sit back and sample some of the freshly-made wines for yourself. This evening we sail overnight to Cologne.

Day 14: Cologne – UK This morning we disembark, bid farewell to our captain and crew and set-off on our return journey to the UK.

We offer a number of flexible travel options for you to join your cruise, whether you want to travel to the port of departure or directly to the ship. Please see below:

Eurostar from London St Pancras

Enjoy the benefits of rail travel – boarding at London St Pancras International, you will be whisked effortlessly along by Eurostar whilst relaxing in your reserved seat. You have the freedom to stretch your legs whenever the mood takes you and purchase drinks and snacks from the buffet carriage.

By Air from London Heathrow

Air travel is included as an air inclusive option with flights and return transfers to the ship included. Regional flight options are available, call our Holiday Advisors for details.

Join at the Ship

Dates and pricing

The details below show the travel options, pricing and the available departure dates for this itinerary. If you have any questions about this cruise please do not hesitate to call our Holiday Advisors.

Enhance your holiday experience with a range of optional and included excursions that allow you to discover the history of our ports of call, experience the tradition of local regions and explore further afield. They’re the perfect complement to your cruise itinerary, but they are subject to availability so we recommend you book early!

Budapest City Tour

£20

Accompanied by a local guide, we discover the architectural gem of Budapest. Our coach city tour takes in some of the most beautiful areas, including Heroes Square, which is home to the iconic statue complex of the Millennium Memorial.

Bratislava Walking Tour & Chocolate Experience

£24

Our guided tour of this magnificent city allows you to explore the charming squares, courtyards and narrow lanes of the Slovakian capital. The old town is filled with all the must-see sites and is a pedestrian zone which makes exploring on foot a safe and relaxing activity. You'll also get to sample the sweet delicacy 'Makova' as well!

Vienna City Tour

£24

This is the perfect introduction to Vienna; the city of music. Our tour focuses on the historic centre and its rich architecture, where we learn about the baroque castles and gardens and the 19th-century Ringstrasse, is lined with grand buildings, monuments and parks – all of which are inscribed on the Unesco world heritage list.

Melk Abbey

£28

Discover one of the world’s most famous monastic sites – Melk Abbey. Our guided tour shows you highlights such as the magnificent Marble Hall, Emperor’s Gallery and Abbey Church. There is also free time to explore the grounds and the gardens.

Salzburg

£29

Salzburg is the birthplace of Mozart and home to ‘The Sound of Music’, this enchanting city is set on the banks of the River Salzach, framed by the Kapuzinerberg and Mönchsberg mountain range. We have a guided tour of the famous sights in Salzburg.

Regensburg City Tour

£25

This excursion shows you the highlights of Regensburg, a fascinating city with over 1,500 listed buildings. Many of these make up the old town which became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2006.

Nuremburg City Tour

£35

Our coach takes you through this medieval city. Its old town is almost completely surrounded by the 15th and 16th century city walls and houses the Kaiserberg Castle. You can also enjoy some free time exploring the city on foot.

Bamberg City Tour

£28

Bamberg’s brewing industry goes back almost 900 years to the days when monasteries were the first breweries. This guided tour takes you around the old town so you can see the highlights of the old town with buildings from the 11th to 19th centuries including the town hall and the Bamberg Cathedral.

Wurzburg Palace

£26

The residence of the former prince bishops is one of the most important baroque castles in Europe and an absolute must-see for visitors to Würzburg. Our guided tour starts in the opulent Garden Hall and takes you to the grand staircase, through the White Hall, to the Imperial Hall – one of the most magnificent in the history of palace architecture. From there we are shown the stunning imperial rooms.

Rudesheim Highlights

£24

A road train ride transports you to view fascinating examples of early 1900 mechanical music making systems at Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Museum. We also include a cable car ride to reach the Niederwald monument, with spectacular views along the way.

Package Price

£263 per person

You can book our excursions individually or as a package, but they are subject to availability so we recommend you book early!

Premium Package

£240 per person

Our Premium Package is a great way to add a touch of something special to your MS Arena river cruise experience. This exclusive package is a pre-bookable addition available across all cabin grades, and includes drinks with your meals, 10% off excursions, a welcome basket of fruit on arrival, water delivered to your cabin, a selection of complimentary toiletries and free use of the wellness and fitness suite aboard MS Arena. For more information call our Holiday Advisers.